ICRISAT Initiated a Partnership between India and Africa on agricultural research-for-development

Initiative will enhance South-South partnership-Dr. Ayyappan

New Delhi, 24 March, 2011

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has initiated a programme to boost India-Africa partnership on agricultural research-for-development to fight poverty in dry lands. Indian Council of Agricultural Research will play a pivotal role for this partnership.

This was announced in 64th Governing Board meeting of ICRISAT held here on 21-24 March, 2011. Concluding the India-Africa Roundtable on agricultural development Governing Board Chairman Nigel Poole led in launching ICRISAT South-South Initiative (IS-SI) as a platform for focused and systematic partnership towards stronger and inclusive development cooperation between the two continents.

Dr. William Dar, Director General, ICRISAT hoped that new initiative will open more opportunities for increased financial and technical support and enhanced public-private partnerships on research-for-development.

Dr. S. Ayyappan, Secretary, DARE and Director General ICAR appreciated this initiative, ‘India and the African continent should capitalize on common features like climate, soil, water and small land holdings in boosting agriculture. This initiative will enhance South-South partnership between India and Africa. We appreciate this approach’, he added.

Meeting was attended by the senior officials and private entrepreneurs from India and Africa including Sudan, South Africa, Ethiopia, Zambia, Mali and Nigeria.